Flying apparatus



Aug. 26 1924. 11,506,624

M. FORCHIONE FLYING APPARATUS Original iled April 19. 1923 4Sheets-Sheet l WITNESS: ATTORNEY Aug. 2% H924.

M. FORCE-NONE FLYING APPARATUS Original Filed pril 19.

1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATI'ORN EYY Aug. 26, 1924. 1,506,624

M. FORCHIONE FLYING APPARATUS Original Filed April 19. 1923 4Sheets-Sheet 5 WITNESS: ATTORNEY FLYING APPARATUS Original Filed April19 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR WlTNESS: AfiORNEY Patented Aug. 26,1924.

UNITED STATES MICHELE FOB-CHIONE,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FLYING APPARATUS.

Application filed April 19, 1923, Serial No. 633,157. Renewed July 7,1924.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHELE FoRoHroNE, a citizen of Italy, residing atChicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented newand useful Improvements in Flying Apparatus, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in flying machines of that typewhich is actuated by the muscular power of the person to whom the sameis attached.

An object is to construct a flying machine that includes a body beltwhich is strapped around the body of the operator and which has footstirrups associated therewith so that the operators body may be retainedat approximately a horizontal position, while suitably supported abovethe body belt there are pivoted wings designed to be moved by the armsof the operator in a manner to imitate the flight of birds, the saidwings being spring influenced to normal horizontal position, and thebody belt also supporting a stabilizing plane designed to be turned tovarying inclinations by the bending of the body of the operator andwhereby the machine is guided.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will bebetter understood from the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a sideelevation of'the improvement with the operator strapped therein.

Figure 2 is a top plan view.

Figure 3 is a sectional view through the machine approximately on theline 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view through the machine approximately on theline 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the wings.

Figure 6 is a similar view of the stabilizing plane.

Figure 7 is a similar view of the body belt.

The remaining figures illustrate details.

The belt 1 of the improvement preferably includes a body portion of somesoft but strong fabric which is provided, at its edges with a pluralityof e ui-distantly spaced straps 2 and 3 respective the straps 2 carryingbuckles 4 whose tongues engage apertures in the straps 3. The belt, asdisclosed in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, is designed to be strappedaround the body of the operator, the said belt being of a lengthapproximately equalling the torso of the operator. The belt, at its endsis reinforced by bendable metallic strips 5 and longitudinal strips 6connecting the said strips 5. To the end reinforcing metallic strips 5,at the center thereof there are preferably removably secured the forkedends 7 and 8 respectively of metallic posts 9 and 10 respectively. Thepost 9, which is arranged at the front of the belt, has its upper endrounded outwardly, as at 11, while the post 10 which is arranged at therear of the belt has its upper end bifurcated to provide laterallycurved arms 12. To the rounded end of the post 9 there is secured thereduced end 13 of a substantially elliptical frame 14, the side membersof the frame being also connected to the ends of the arms 12. The frameis constructed of some suitable light material, metal preferred,including both longitudinal and transverse brace bars for the sides andends thereof. The frame also is of a concavoconvex formation in bothlongitudinal and lateral section and has arranged thereon a fabriccovering 15. The frame and its covering provide the stabilizing plane ofthe improvement as Well as the rudder thereof, the flight of the machinein all directions being controlled by the bending of the body of theoperator who is strapped in the bel Preferably secured to thelongitudinal metallic reinforcing bar 6 at the sides of the belt 1 thereare flexible members 17 that have their ends looped or have secured tothe said ends stirrups 18 in which the feet of the operator arepositioned.

The posts 9 and 10 are connected together by a brace rod 19, andpreferably there are wire braces 20 respectively between the belt andthe stabilizing plane 15.

The central reinforcing rod for the belt is, for distinction, indicatedby the numeral 21 and is preferably of stronger meta-l than the sidespacing and bracing members 16. The rod '11 is provided upon both of itssides with spaced knuckles 22 that receive there-' between knuckles 23provided upon the inner rounded member 24 of the metallic frame 25 ofthe wings 26. Passing through these tinterengaging knuckles there is aremovable pivot 27. Each pivot is in the nature of a cross sectionallyrounded rod provided at spaced intervals with annular grooves that formracewa s for anti-frictional balls 28, the said b being disposed forcontacting engagement with the knuckles on the brace 21 and the knuckleson the frame 25.

I have stated that the inner member 24 of the frame 25 is rounded, but,of course, the knuckles 23 formed thereon are in a straight plane. Theelement 24 of the frame has an outwardly and downwardly roundedextension 29, while suitable arched brace bars 30 are integrallyconnected between the element 24: and the pointed end of the element 29of the frame 25. Thus it will be noted that the outer ends of the wingsare pointed. Suitable brace members are provided between the rods 29 and30 and each frame 25 is covered with a canvas or light textile body 31.

Between the frames for the wings 26 and the brace member 21 there arepreferably arranged stop means 32 which limit the swinging of the wingsin an upward direction and also between the frame of the wings and theside braces 6 of the belt 1 there are spring means 33 which tend toforce the wings in an upward direction. The outer elements 26 of theframe of the wings have secured thereto hand grips 33 engageable by thehands of the operator, and if desired suitable rests 3 may be secured tothe wings for the forearms of the operator.

The aviator is strapped in the body belt with his feet engaged in thestirrups 18 and his hands gripping the elements 36 of the wings. Thesimple drawing of the arms of the aviator toward each other produces adownward stroke of the wings While by stretching out the arms, an upwardstroke is effected. The spring means 33 serve as propelling means forthe wings in the up stroke thereof, and as reviously stated, the machineis guided by ending the body of the aviator so as to bring thestabilizer and rudder 15 to different inclinations.

It is believed that the foregoing description, when taken in connectionwith the drawings will fully set forth the construction and operation ofmy improvement, but I wish it understood that I do not desire to belimited to the precise structural details herein set forth, but holdmyself entitled to such changes therefrom as fall within the scope ofwhat I claim.

Having described the invention, I claim A flying machine comprising afabric belt designed to be strapped around the body of an aviator,spaced posts secured to and projecting 'upward from the belt, astabilizing plane and rudder secured to the posts, a reinforcing barbetween the said posts, flexible elements connected to the sides of thebelt and having stirrups for the feet of the aviator, a centralreinforcement on the belt, aligned knuckles on the central reinforcement of the belt, wings having the inner members of their frameprovided with knuckles to interengage with the first mentioned knucklesand with each other, a single pintle passing through the knuckles andpivoting both wings in place, anti-frictional elements carried by thepintle for engagement with all of the knuckles, hand grips on the wingsengageable by the hands of the aviator, spring means secured to saidreinforcing bar and the wings and influencing the wings in an upwarddirection, and means carried by said reinforcing bar and extendinglaterally thereof for limiting the movement of said wings in suchdirection.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

MICHELE FORCHIONE.

